Rains bring chance of flooding, tornadoes to Shore

The national weather forecast for Tuesday, August 12. Expect morning showers and T-storms in the Great Lakes and showers and T-storms along the I-95 Corridor, Gulf Coast and Rockies.

Staff Report
6:27 p.m. EDT August 12, 2014

A woman leaves her van near Washington D.C. today after she says flood waters pushed her vehicle several feet. The storm that pounded the western shore was beginning to make its presence known on the Eastern Shore by mid-afternoon.(Photo: Stephanie Ramires/WUSA9)

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Chance for severe weather on Lower Shore and in Accomack County

There is a slight chance of a tornado or straight line wind Tuesday afternoon or evening on the Lower Shore and Virginia's Eastern Shore.

Expect large hail and thunderstorms with heavy rain during the periods.

A storm system lashed Delmarva this afternoon after dumping several inches of rain and causing flash floods in the Baltimore and Washington areas.

As of 6 p.m., parts of western Wicomico and Somerset counties had received up to 1.5 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologists warned of a "slight risk" this evening for weather conditions similar to those last month that spun a tornado that killed at least three campers near Cheriton.

Primary risks are damaging straight line winds with a chance of an isolated tornado, according to the weather service.

The rain was expected to slacken with the approach of dawn Wednesday. The Salisbury area was forecast to receive up to three-quarters of an inch of additional rainfall, forecasters said.

The Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland's Lower Shore are in the outlook area. On July 24, a tornado ripped through Cherrystone Campground in lower Northampton County on the Virginia shore, killing a New Jersey couple and their teenage son/

The general region also is at risk of large hail and thunderstorms with heavy rain today and tonight.

The rain disrupted outdoor events planned for Tuesday night.

The Sharptown Firemen's Carnival cancelled events because of the weather. And Ocean City cancelled its beach fireworks scheduled for the evening.

Also, there is a risk of moderate rip currents through this evening. The service issued a coastal flood advisory for western Wicomico and western Somerset counties from 1 a.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Thursday.

The storm system has already left the western shore a soggy mess.

Anne Arundel County firefighters conducted about a half-dozen water rescues in heavy rain in the northern tip of the county.

Fire Department spokesman Lt. Russ Davies tells The Capital calls began coming in around 1:15 p.m. Tuesday. Most appeared to be from drivers with vehicles stalled in high water on the roads. By about 2:30 p.m., there were six active rescues in the areas of Linthicum, Brooklyn Park and Glen Burnie. A number of incidents appeared to be in the areas of Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard, Dorsey Road and Belle Grove Road.

No injuries were reported and no one appeared to be in imminent danger.

The National Weather Service reports nearly 6 inches of rain at nearby BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.